Hancock County Career Center construction progressing; district aims for full-day programs and expanded enrollment

Stan Wilkerson, the Hancock County cooperative director, updated the board on construction progress and enrollment for the Hancock County Career Center (HC3). Wilkerson said the facility is taking shape with exterior brickwork and concrete in place and shared photos from a July beam-signing ceremony. He said the overall building is more than 100,000 square feet and that roughly 30,000 square feet will house career programs.

Wilkerson reported enrollment growth in career programs across participating districts: 164 students in 2023-24, 220 students last year, and a notably higher figure this year (presented in the meeting as around 295). He said the center's capacity will be 565 and the goal for the 2026-27 school year is to enroll more than 400 students. To support equipment purchases and state-of-the-art lab installations, Wilkerson said the cooperative is planning a comprehensive campaign and noted a possible loan need of about $1.5 million to buy certain equipment.

Wilkerson listed planned program expansions for the new site, including adding electrical and dental programs and making carpentry and HVAC full-day offerings; other proposed additions include transportation/logistics, auto service and auto collision. He said the aviation program and some programs at Eastern Hancock will remain half-day at first. Wilkerson also described the cooperative's ongoing stakeholder work for the state's comprehensive local needs assessment (CLNA) and a planned career-interest survey to be conducted by September.

Wilkerson invited board members to visit the site once access is available and asked for assistance moving equipment when the cooperative receives access dates.